Accumulator tank in a 21

[LeonW]

Has anyone added an accumulator tank to a 21? If so, where did you put it, and how is it working?

Back when we had a 17, I bought one of these. But we decided to buy a 21 before I got it installed. I am trying to get some things done before we head off to the rally, and one of the items on my list is to install the accumulator tank. I think that I can use a bit of 1x4 lumber attached to some of the uprights near the water heater to mount the accumulator tank, but I am interested in what others have done. It needs to be some place where I can attach a bicycle tire pump to it on occasion so that I can make sure it has the 20 lbs pressure it is supposed to have.

Thanks for any advice.

[Dave&Jane]

Originally Posted by LeonW

Back when we had a 17, I bought one of these. But we decided to buy a 21 before I got it installed.

I like the idea, but how would you winterize it? Does it have a drain valve?

-Dave

[PGDriver]

Originally Posted by Dave&Jane

I like the idea, but how would you winterize it? Does it have a drain valve?

-Dave

Hi Dave it just drains out the bottom through the water lines

Cheers
Doug

[santacruzer]

I also bought one of these for my 17, and never got around to installing it. Now, the newer ShurFlo pump that's in the 19 specifically notes that an accumulator tank is unnecessary.

[cpaharley2008]

I have one I was going to use in the 19' Escape but it was too hard to get access. In the 21' it is right there next to the water heater, easy access. It is on my list.

[padlin]

I put a bigger 1/2G in the TA next to the HW tank, plenty of room, at least with the U dinette.

[thoer]

As I listen to our pump switch on and off at low flow rates I was just thinking about one of these Has anyone tried one on a 17?

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by LeonW

Has anyone added an accumulator tank to a 21? If so, where did you put it, and how is it working?

Photos of our accumulator tank, right next to the water heater. Very happy with the reduction in noise and the ability to flush the toilet at night without running the pump. (Necessary for the old male in the family...)

--
Alan

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by PGDriver

... it just drains out the bottom through the water lines

That makes sense, but it would only drain completely if it is mounted vertically (with the water line connections on the bottom; air valve on the top).

Originally Posted by santacruzer

Now, the newer ShurFlo pump that's in the 19 specifically notes that an accumulator tank is unnecessary.

As long as it is a single-speed pump that cycles on and off to stay near the set pressure, an accumulator will reduce cycling. It's not needed, but it's not really needed with any pump. The only pump which would eliminate cycling would be the variable-speed type - is that ShurFlo a variable-speed?

Various web sites refer to an internal bypass feature in the most recent Shurflo pumps, so perhaps they are regulating pressure by bypassing excess flow back to the intake - that would be less efficient than varying pump speed, but could eliminate the rapid cycling that would otherwise occur at higher (but not maximum) flow rates.

[bvansnell]

I posted the method I used to add an accumulator to our water system here: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...pump-2786.html

It continues to work just fine, and is easy to drain while winterizing.

[Fox hunt]

What is an accumulator pump and why would I need it?

[skiman]

I like the black plastic one better. I winterize with antifreeze. I am concerned the white metal unit may be a dead end and not get antifreeze?

[skiman]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

What is an accumulator pump and why would I need it?

I believe the tank has an air bladder in it. The pump fills the accumulator until the pressure balances out and shuts off. When you run water, the water comes from the accumulator for a relatively long time before the pump starts. Eliminates the quick cycling of the pump, especially at low flows such as a trickle using a faucet. Not a pump, just a tank. You still use your original pump. Hope this answers your question.

[Brian B-P]

Great description, Carl.

Originally Posted by skiman

I believe the tank has an air bladder in it.

Some pressure tanks don't have a diaphragm or bladder - just pressurized air in the top of the tank. In this case, the Amazon description says it does have a diaphragm... presumably clamped between the moulded tank halves to separate the air in the end with the air valve and the water in the end with the plumbing fittings.

One of the distributors of this accumulator offers a datasheet which provides a good description of how it works and how to use it.

[Jim Bennett]

In my 19 I installed a flexible hose from the pump to an accumulator, and mounted the pump on 1" of ensolite foam. This silenced the pump greatly.